What is the participation age in England?

In England, young people can leave school at 16 but must continue in education or training until 18. This is known as Raising the Participation Age.

Does everyone stay at school until 18?

No. Young people can move to a college, a sixth form, an apprenticeship or another permitted education or training route. Staying in education or training does not mean staying at the same school.

Why was the participation age raised?

The policy was designed to increase continued participation after compulsory schooling. It has applied to 16 and 17 year olds in England since the reforms implemented in 2013/14. Local authorities have duties to encourage, enable and assist participation.

Does this mean participation is 100%?

No. At the end of 2025 DfE measured 88.2% of 16–17 year olds participating in education or apprenticeships. That is an administrative-data snapshot and does not capture every possible category in the same way as the wider Labour Force Survey measures.

What does DfE participation include?

• schools
• further-education colleges
• sixth-form colleges
• apprenticeships
• higher education where relevant

The wider publication combines administrative data with Labour Force Survey estimates for employment, wider training, NET and NEET.

When is it measured?

The main participation series is a snapshot around the end of the calendar year. That is different from destination measures, which test whether activity is sustained for a defined period.

What happens at 18?

Age 18 is the first academic age at which Raising the Participation Age no longer applies. DfE measured complete national education and apprenticeship participation at age 18 at 58.3% in 2024. At that age, pathways diversify significantly into education, apprenticeships and employment.

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